Laundry apparatus with improved control



Feb. 8, 1966 D. L. LANG ETAL 3,234,449

LAUNDRY APPARATUS WITH IMPROVED CONTROL Filed March 23. 1961 Iuarzfars.M21 Lian United States Patent Ofiice 3,234,449 LAUNDRY APPARATUS WITHIMPROVED CONTROL David L. Lang and Guy 1). Phillips, St. Joseph, Mich,

assignors to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware H FiledMar. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 97,902 11 Claims. (Cl. 318461) This inventionrelates tocontrol apparatus, and in particular to control apparatus foruse in laundering machines and the like.

In laundering machines, such as dry cleaners, combination washer-dryers,or automatic washers, a basket or cylinder is rotated at diiierentspeeds at different times during a cycle of laundering operation. Thebasket or cylinder is, for example, conventionally operated by a drivesystem including a powered driver, a driven member connected to thebasket or cylinder, and force transmission means between the driver anddriven member. More specifically, the driver may comprise an electricmotor connected through a multiple speed transmission means with adriven driver pulley, the driven member may comprise adriven pulley, andthe force transmission means may comprise a belt.

It has been found that at times a malfunctioning of the drive systemoccurs wherein the belt slips or breaks thus permitting the drive motorto operate without concomitant proper rotation of the basket orcylinder. Further, such malfunctioning, as in the case of belt slippage,may not affect all phases of operation of the apparatus but merely thehigh-speed phases of the operation. Of course, there are many otherpossible malfunctions of a multiple speed drive system other than beltslippage or breakage. Pulleys can break or slip on their shafts,mechanical transmissions and their clutches canfail, and a single speedmotor can fail completely or one of the windings of a multiple speedmotor can fail. This makes the detection of the malfunctioningdilficult.

The present invention comprehends an improved control means fordetecting such malfunctioning. of the apparatus drive. Thus, a principalfeature of the present inventionis the provision of a new and improveddetector means.

Another feature of the invention is. the provision of such a detectormeans providing indication of the malfunctioning of a drive system.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such means havingextremely simple and economical construction.

Yet another feature of the invention of such means includes a switch andmeans operating the switch utilizing movement of the circumambientatmosphere in a novel manner.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be come apparentfrom the description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingwherein:

FIGURE 1 is a rear elevation with the back panel removed of 1alaundering machine provided with detector means embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2. is a reduced vertical section thereof taken substantiallyalong the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3' is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along theline 3-3 ofFIGURE 1 illustrating in greater detail the detection means and meansfor actuating the same; and

FIGURE 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the necessary associatedelectrical circuitry.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in thedrawing, a laundering machine generally designated 1'!) isshown tocomprise, for example, a dry shaft 13 supported on a pylon member 13a.In the illustrated embodiment the laundering machine is arranged Itshould be understood, however, that the invention applies to have theaxis of the basket and shaft horizontal.

to machines wherein the axis is inclined at any angle. The housing 11comprises a conventional cabinet structure provided with a front door 14selectively closing openings 14a .and 15 in the outer housing 1-1 andinner casing 11a providing access to the interior of the basket 12. Arear wall 16 of inner casing 11a extends transversely across theinterior of outer housing 11 rearwardly of the basket 12 to define inthe rear portion of the housing a space 17. Mounted on the inner casingrear wall 16 in the space 17 is a conventional blower 18 for deliveringair into and out of the interior of the basket for drying anddeodorizing of the load therein. Where the laundering machine comprisesa conventional automatic washer, the \blower, of course, would'beomitted. Also mounted on the rear wall '16 of the inner casing 11a is abox structure 17a housing the drying heating means (not shown).

Herein, a two-speed electric motor 19 is mounted in the housing 11subjacent the inner casing 11a (FIGURE 1) and is provided with arearwardly extending shaft 20- driving a multiple speed transmission 21provided with a speed changing clutch control 22. A pair of outputshafts 23 and 24 extend rearwardly from the transmission 21. A drive-rpulley 25 is mounted on shaft 23 and is connected to a driven pulley '26mounted on the shaft 27 of blower 18 by a belt 28. Shaft 23 is driven ata constant rotative speed during blower operation by motor- 19 throughthe transmission 21 thus operating the blower at a constant rotativespeed. A clutch (not shown) can be provided in the blower drive systemto limit blowe-r operation to only the necessary portions of thecomplete cycle. A driver pulley 29 is mounted on the shaft 24 and isconnected to a large diameter driven pulley 30' secured to basket shaft13, by a belt 31 to drive basket 12.

In the complete cycle of the operation of the laundering machine 10,herein illustratively a dry cleaner, the first phase of operationnormally consists of a 12 minute filter conditioning and wash cyclephase, a 1 minute low-speed extraction phase, a 4 minute high-speedextraction phase, a 29 minute heated drying phase, and a 4 minutedeodorizing phase. The control of the cyclical operation of the machineis effected by a control device 32 provided with a manually operablecontrol knob 32a. As shown in FIGURE 4, the control device 32 includesfour cams 33, 34, 35 and 36 fixed on a common shaft 37 driven by a timermotor 38. Power to the control device 32 is delivered from a suitablesource (not shown) to a pair of leads L1 and L2. In the wash cycle, thedrive motor 19 is energized through a switch 39 controlled by cam 33 tooperate at its low speed of approximately 1725' r .p.m. thereby drivingthe basket 12 at approximately 45 rpm. At the same time, the timer motor38 is energized through a switch 40 controlled by cam 35. A signal relaycoil 49 is also energized when the timer motor is energized. At the endof the wash cycle, the low speed spin cycle is initiated by the closingof a switch 41 by the cam 36 thereby energizing the solenoid 42 of thetransmissionclutch control 22 to shift the transmission into a lowspeedspin arrangement whereby the basket 12 is driven at the speed ofapproximately 225 rpm. At the end of the low speed spin cycle, a switch43 is closed by cam 34,.

Patented Feb. 8-, .1966

. .3 energized thereby causing the basket to be driven at a speed ofapproximately 450 rpm.

During the first minute of the high speed spin operation, the timermotor 38 remains energized through switch 40. However, at theend of thefirst minute, cam causes switch 40 to open. Continued operation of thetimer motor 38 is now only possible through a switch 4301. As shown inFIGURES 1 and 3, switch 43a herein comprises a conventional microswitchmounted on a bracket 44 secured to the box structure 17a adjacent theperiphery of driven pulley 30. The switch 43a is actuated by a reactionmember, herein a light weight vane 45 mounted on and pivoting with ashaft 45a, having its flat plane extending generally transversely to thedirection of movement of the periphery of the pulley 30. A plurality ofblades 46 are secured one each to the respective spokes 47 of the pulley30 to move closely subjacent the vane 45 as the pulley 30 rotates onshaft 13 in driving the basket 12 through the cycle of operationthereof. The blades 46 may be secured in any suitable manner to thepulley, and herein the blades are each provided with a spring clipportion 48 securely embracing the respective spokes.

The switch 43:: is biased to an open condition. The arrangement of theblades 46 and the vane 45 is coordinated with the spring bias of theswitch so that the switch remains in the open condition until the pulley30 reaches a speed of approximately 350 rpm. The vane 45 and vane shaft45a are adjusted so that the air pressure generated by the blades 46 asthey pass beneath the vane 45 at 350 rpm. will move the vane 45 andshaft 45a to close the switch 43a. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 4, operationof timer motor 38 will be continued, subsequent to the opening of switch40 by cam 35, by the closing of switch 43a during this first minute ofhigh speed spin operation when the basket 12 is accelerated from 225r.p.m. to 450 rpm. If for any reason the driven pulley 30 at the end ofthe first minute of high speed spin is not being rotated at or aboveapproximately 350 rpm.

at the time switch 40 opens, the switch 43a remains open and thetimermotor 38 becomes deenergized, thus preventing further operation ofthe control device 32.

Further, as shown in FIGURE 4, control device 32 includes a relay 4811having a signal coil 49 controlling a normally closed switch 50. Thecoil 49 is connected in parallel with timer motor 38 and thus isenergized only whenever timer motor 38 is energized. Switch 50 isconnected in series with a signal device 51 selectively comprising anaudible signal device such as a bell or buzzer, or a visual signaldevice such as a signal light. Thus, should switch 43a fail to closewhen timer switch 40 opens, as discussed above, in addition to stoppingfurther operation of timer motor 38, this failure causes the relay coil49 to become deenergized, thereby allowing switch 50 to close andenergize signal device 51 to indicate to the user of the launderingmachine the malfunctioning of the drive so that suitable steps toeliminate the malfunctioning may be initiated.

Where the drive of the basket 12 is functioning properly, the closing ofswitch 43:: allows the timer motor 38 to continue driving the controldevice 32 until approximately two minutes later cam 35 recloses switch40 to connect switch 40 in parallel with switch 43a in controllingenergization of timer motor 38 during the last minrite of the high speedspin operation. At the end of the high speed spin operation, the cam 34opens switch 43, cam 33 closes switch 39 and cam 36 opens switch 41 todeenergize clutch control solenoid 42 to effect the 45 r.p.m. tumble-dryand deodorizing cycles.

' The speed of pulley 30 at which the blades 46 sufficiently move thecircumambient air against blade 45 to throw switch 43a from the normallyopen to the closed condition may be varied as desired between the lowspin speed of approximately 225 rpm. and the high spin speed ofapproximately 450 rpm. as the acceleration of the basket to the highspin speed from the low spin speed occurs in a matter of seconds. In theillustrated embodiment, eight blades 46 are provided whereby 47 bladepassings adjacent the vane 45 occur each second at the 350 rpm. speed ofthe pulley 30. As will be obvious to one skilled in the art, the numberof blades may be varied as well as the area thereof and the area of thevane 45 and the operating force of the switch 43a may also be varied toobtain the desired closing of the switch at the preselected speed of thepulley and basket.

Thus, any of the several possible malfunctions of the basket drivesystem is detected and indicated to the user by means of the control 51.The detection is effected in a simple and economical manner and isresponsive to a. failure in the drive belt which may comprise only aslight malfunctioning such as a slippage of the belt and does notrequire a complete failure of the drive. Such detection of a slightmalfunctioning is highly desirable in laundering machines where it ishighly desirable to assure the complete drying of the load during eachcomplete cycle of the machine operation, particularly where thelaundering machine may be used in a public installation such as acoin-operated laundry or dry cleaning establishment. It is also seenthat the sensing takes place in the high speed range of the drive systemand thus senses the proper functioning of the greatest number of thedrive system elements.

Having described our invention as related to the embodiment shown in theaccompanying drawing, it is our intention that the invention be notlimited by any of the details of description, unless otherwisespecified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scopeas set out in the accompanying claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus of the character described, comprising: a controlmechanism; a rotatable member; means for rotating the member, saidcontrol mechanism controlling operation of said rotating means forrotating said member successively at a first speed and at a secondhigher speed during two portions of a cycle of operation; signallingmeans; first switch means controlled by said control mechanism formaintaining said signalling means in a normally deenergized conditionwhen said member is rotated at said first speed during a first portionof said cycle; second switch means for controlling operation of saidsignalling means when said member is rotated at said second higher speedduring a second portion of said cycle; and means responsive to therotation of said rotatable member at said second higher speed duringsaid second portion of said cycle for actuating said second switch tomaintain said signalling device in a deenergized condition andresponsive to the rotation of said rotatable member at a speed lowerthan said second speed during said second portion of said cycle forcontrolling said switch to cause energization of said signalling device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second switch comprises aswitch having an operator arranged for actuating the switch in responseto fluid pressure exerted thereagainst and said actuating meanscomprises blade means carried by the rotatable member for moving airagainst said operator of said second switch.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control mechanism includesmeans for providing a third portion of said cycle prior to said secondportion wherein said rotating means is operated to drive said member atsaid second speed.

4. Laundry apparatus comprising: rotatable centrifuging means; means forrotating said centrifuging means at a preselected centrifuging speed;and sequential control means for controlling the apparatus through asequence of operations including a centrifuging operation during whichsaid centrifuging means is required to reach said preselectedcentrifuging speed, said sequential control means including sensingmeans responsive to the speed of said centrifuging means for precludingcompletion of said sequence of operations and maintaining said apparatusin said centrifuging operations in the event that the speed sensed bysaid sensing means is less than said preselected centrifuging speed.

5. Apparatus of the character described, comprising: a prime mover; adrive system driven by said prime mover and having an output shaft;actuating means driven by said output shaft; switch means mountedadjacent said actuating means and responsive to actuation thereby; andcontrol means for operating said prime mover through a predeterminedcycle of operation, said control means being electrically associatedwith said switch mean-s and operated thereby for preventing completionof said cycle when said output shaft fails to attain its operating speeddue to the malfunction of one or more of the elements of the drivesystem.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said control means include a signalmeans for indicating said failure of said output shaft to attain itsoperating speed.

7. Laundry apparatus of the character described, comprising: a basket;drive means for rotatably driving said basket, including a prime moverand transmission means connecting the prime mover to the basket;sequential control means, said control means having a drive control andtimer means for operating the drive control in a preselected cycle forcontrolling the operation of said drive means to effect a predeterminedsequence of speeds; and means including switch means responsive to apredetermined speed of rotation of said basket and associated with saidsequential control means for preventing further operation of said timermeans to thereby prevent the completion of said preselected cycle andpredetermined sequence of speeds in the event said basket does not reacha predetermined speed of said predetermined sequence.

8. Apparatus of the character described, comprising: a member; drivemeans for rotatably driving said member; sequential control means, saidcontrol means having a drive control and timer means for operating thedrive control in a preselected cycle for controlling the operation ofsaid drive means to eflect a predetermined sequence of operations ofsaid member; and means including switch means responsive to apredetermined driven condition of said member and associated with saidsequential control means for preventing further operation of said timermeans to thereby prevent the completion of said preselected cycle andpredetermined sequence of operations and maintain said drive control ina drive operation-effecting portion of its cycle in the event saidmember does not reach a predetermined operation of said predeterminedsequence.

9. Apparatus of the character described, comprising: a member; drivemeans for rotatably driving said member; sequential control means, saidcontrol means having a drive control and timer means for operating thedrive control in a preselected cycle for controlling the operation ofsaid driving means to drive said member through a predetermined sequenceof speeds; and means including switch means responsive to apredetermined speed of rotation of said member and associated with saidsequential control means for preventing turther operation of said timermeans to thereby prevent the completion of said preselected cycleand'predetermined sequence of speeds and maintain said drive control ina speed-effecting portion of its cycle in the event said member does notreach a predetermined speed of said predetermined sequence.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the drive means includes means fordriving the member selectively at a first speed and a second higherspeed, said control means includes signalling means and said switchmeans includes a first switch for maintaining the signaling meansde-energized when said member is driven at said first speed, and asecond switch maintaining the signal device de'energized when the memberis driven at said second speed. 11. Apparatus of the characterdescribed, comprising: a basket; drive means for rotatably driving saidbasket; sequential control means for controlling the operation of saiddrive means to eitect a predetermined sequence of speeds; timer motormeans for driving said sequential control means; circuit meansincluding, a first switch means operated by said sequential controllerand connected electrically in series with said timer motor means, and asecond, normally open switch means connected electrically in parallelrelationshipwith said first switch means, said sequential controllerfurther including means for opening said first switch means at apreselected speed of said predetermined sequence; and means responsiveto the speed of said basket for closing said second switch meanstocontinue operation of said timer motor means only when said basket hasreached said preselected speed under the control of said first switchmeans.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,121,651 6/1938Claytor 2008l.9 2,226,785 12/ 1940 Soucy 2008l.9 2,250,141 7/1941Thurston 3 l8-461 2,397,091 3/ 1946 Davis 34-54 2,472,526 6/1949 Frazee318461 X 2,505,041 4/1950 Gorsuch 39-45 2,577,104 12/ 1951 Butler2008l.9 X 2,883,564 4/1959 Jennings 318-461 X 3,083,325 3/1963 George318470 X ORIS L. RADER, Primary Examiner.

MILTON O. HIRSHFIELD, Examiner.

1. APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, COMPRISING: A CONTROLMECHANISM; A ROTATABLE MEMBER; MEANS FOR ROTATING THE MEMBER, SAIDCONTROL MECHANISM CONTROLLING OPERATION OF SAID ROTATING MEANS FORROTATING SAID MEMBER SUCCESSIVELY AT A FIRST SPEED AND AT A SECONDHIGHER SPEED DURING TWO PORTIONS OF A CYCLE OF OPERATION; SIGNALLINGMEANS; FIRST SWITCH CONTROLLED BY SAID CONTROL MECHANISM FOR MAINTAININGSAID SIGNALLING MEANS IN A NORMALLY DEENERGIZED CONDITION WHEN SAIDMEMBER IS ROTATED AT SAID FIRST SPEED DURING A FIRST PORTION OF SAIDCYCLE; SECOND SWITCH MEANS FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF SAID SIG-